A coroner has determined that the death of a teenager who was fatally stabbed with a flick knife was unlawful.
In July 2019, Joshua Molnar, who is currently 22 years old, was found not guilty of the murder and manslaughter charges involving his friend Yousef Makki, who was 17 at the time. This decision was made after a trial at Manchester Crown Court.
Molnar informed the jury that he acted in self-defense when Yousef first pulled out a blade and then “lunged” at his knife during an argument in Hale Barns, near Altrincham, Greater Manchester, on March 2nd, 2019.
In November 2021, a coroner determined that the cause of death could not be determined, but ruled out accidental or intentional harm.
The superior court ultimately nullified the results and demanded a second investigation with a different coroner, which was finalized on Wednesday.
Coroner Geraint Williams stated in a detailed decision that Yousef did not possess a knife when he died, contrary to claims, and Molnar did not act in self-defense and did not feel the need to use a knife to protect himself.
According to Williams, Yousef Makki did not use a knife to threaten or attack Joshua Molnar.
In my opinion, the use of a knife was not necessary, excessive, and unjustified. Therefore, I believe that he did not act in self-defense within the boundaries of the law.
Based on the evidence, it is clear that Mr. Makki’s death was unlawful.
When the verdict was announced, Mazen, the husband of Yousef’s sister Jade Akoum, embraced her.
Their legal representative, Peter Weatherby KC, expressed gratitude to the coroner, stating that it had been a lengthy process for the family.
In a criminal trial, a jury must have absolute certainty of guilt before reaching a verdict. However, in an inquest, a coroner can draw conclusions using the less strict standard of a balance of probabilities. This means that coroners are not permitted to assign fault to specific individuals according to inquest regulations.
Molnar confessed to fabricating a false story out of fear about the events following the stabbing. Attorneys representing the Makki family pointed out multiple inconsistencies in his version of how Yousef was stabbed.
During his trial, Molnar stated to the jury that he and Yousef had an argument and that Yousef was the first to pull out a knife. In response, Molnar also pulled out his own knife and his friend ended up being injured by it. This injury proved to be fatal.
During the initial investigation, he claimed he could not recall who had retrieved the knife first. Another adolescent, Adam Chowdhary, was present with them at the time. He stated that he did not witness the events as he was on his phone. The flick knives were purchased by Chowdhary through an online platform.
Yousef, originally from Burnage in Manchester, formed a friendship with the duo, both from affluent families in Cheshire, after receiving a scholarship to attend the prestigious Manchester Grammar school, which costs £12,000 per year. They were all 17 years old at the time.
Molnar acknowledged engaging in deceitful actions after the stabbing, which he described as “repulsive,” in order to safeguard himself. However, he maintained that he acted in self-defense.
Molnar’s representative, Lisa Judge, stated that he had confessed to panicking and giving false information to the police, resulting in his imprisonment.
However, she explained that any discrepancies in his recollection of the stabbing from four years ago were due to trauma and the fragmentation of memories.
Weatherby accused Molnar of being dishonest and implied that Yousef did not possess or display a knife. During Molnar’s trial, it was stated that Yousef’s death was a potential accident, with both he and Chowdhary being privileged individuals who have never experienced the challenges of the real world.
According to the jury, they referred to each other as “bro” and “fam” and pretended to be “middle class gangsters” by playing with knives, smoking cannabis, and listening to drill music.
Molnar received a 16-month prison sentence for possessing a knife in a public place and obstructing justice by initially providing false information to law enforcement.
Chowdhary, who is now 21 years old, did not testify during Molnar’s trial for murder. He was acquitted of the charge of obstructing justice and received a four-month detention order for carrying a knife in public, which he admitted to.
Yousef’s relatives disputed the initial report from the coroner, which stated that there was insufficient proof regarding the key question of whether the homicide was illegal.
The family plans to have a press conference at a later time.
Source: theguardian.com
